Allegheny County Sheriff Deputy Kevin Kraus appeared to have won his primary, beating out fellow hopeful Dom Costa for county sheriff. Early Wednesday morning, Kraus was leading by nearly 3,700 votes, with 99 percent of precincts reporting. The two Democrats were vying to replace retiring Sheriff William Mullen, who has served in the office since 2007.
Kraus joined a crowd of supporters in Ross Township Tuesday evening, but left the event early. A campaign staffer said Kraus was anxiously awaiting the final vote count after periods where the two candidates were separated by 2,000 votes.
He served as a Pittsburgh police officer for decades before moving to the sheriff’s office, where he was later appointed chief deputy in 2014. Dom Costa was a police officer in East McKeesport before becoming a Pittsburgh police commander and the city’s chief of police in 2006.
Allegheny County residents will again have input about creating an independent police review board. But council may have already approved the legislation if the meeting is even held. “This is a very important issue that establishes a newly created board and I believe every resident that wants to be heard
Macey had mixed feelings about the sick days legislation, but after consulting with local labor leaders, the former steelworker said, “I went along with them. Sometimes there s a little give and take. And so I voted for it.”
Macey’s challenger, Singer, argues that the 9th District needs a stronger advocate for current and future workers. He has made funding for the Allegheny County Port Authority and community college system top priorities.
Of the Port Authority, Singer said, “My wife used to take a bus into work, but they ve cut so many routes that that s pretty much impossible anymore.
“The Mon Valley,” the White Oak resident added, consists of “working-class neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods where we have a lot of people of color. Don t we have a right to public transportation?”
Council has
On Tuesday, council’s public safety committee voted 4-3 in favor of the legislation. Supporters included Democrats Liv Bennett, Bethany Hallam, Paul Klein, and Bob Palmosina. Democrat Bob Macey sided with Republicans Sam DeMarco and Cindy Kirk in opposing the bill.
Hallam’s support marked a breakthrough for the legislation, after she had sought to strengthen it with a raft of amendments.
“I’ve made it very clear that I don’t love the current bill,” Hallam said. She said the proposal had been watered down after its sponsors consulted with the office of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.